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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2011 1:56:51 GMT -5
Thank you Heather! And THANK YOU KATT!!!! I am so happy to be graduated and have them eating healthy and balanced diets! The thought of feeding ferrets kibble seems so awful and cruel now that I see them so happy munching down on their meats, organs and bone! ;D I think I am going to keep getting them to "try" all kinds of new proteins and textures and hopefully whole prey too while they are still so young and impressionable ;D ;D ;D But I feel like I've got the foundation now to do that all on my own and I won't hesitate to contact you by PM if I have any questions! I do have one last question before this closes. If... or I mean really I should say WHEN I get a third ferret ;D ;D ;D, if I do go the rescue route and end up with a super stubborn kibble eater, do I just sign up for the mentoring program again? If I end up with another baby, I'm pretty sure I can handle it on my own, but Sophie and Olivia have been so EASY compared some of the other mentoring threads I've read that I don't think I'd even know where to start with a difficult older rescue kibble-eating ferret ;D Who knows, maybe the girls will even "teach" the new ferret to eat raw, but I was just curious because you've been such an awesome mentor, how subsequent ferret mentoring works That's all my questions! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! - Stephanie, Olivia & Sophie <3
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Post by katt on May 20, 2011 2:03:24 GMT -5
It is really up to you. If you think that you can handle the switch on your own (and you have the tools we just went through the process faster) then go for it and just make threads for questions. But you are more than welcome to sign up for the mentoring program again. I'd be more than happy to re-mentor you. It'll be like Graduate school! ;D
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2011 2:07:09 GMT -5
;D ;D ;D Awesome, thanks so much Katt! Hopefully the girls and I will be able to whip the new ferret into shape, but I'm trying to hold off on another addition for at least a little while longer, we'll see though Thanks again for everything!!!!
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Post by katt on May 20, 2011 4:08:41 GMT -5
You are very welcome! Thank YOU for being such a great mentee!
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Post by katt on Jun 30, 2011 18:28:34 GMT -5
Hello! We are back in Action!
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Post by katt on Jun 30, 2011 18:57:25 GMT -5
So correct me if I am wrong, but your girls don't really care for soupies of any kind, is that correct? I think what we will need to do here is work backwards, just as if we were switching to a new diet. Only the "new" diet is soupies and organs. Silly little things. We'll get them eating organs whether they like it or not! *stamps foot* Get some chicken breast (or any plain meat for that matter, chicken just tends to be the easiest to blend IMO) and puree it with some water. nothing else in the mix (except perhaps pumpkin and/or bonemeal if you are concerned about their poops). See how they like the taste of it, then mix a little bit into their regular meats - chunks of something might be easiest - so that it is all lightly coated in the soup. See how that goes for a meal, then add more and gradually increase the soupies to meat ratio until you have a heavy gravy coating.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2011 19:59:15 GMT -5
Hey Katt, thanks for doing this again for me! They will eat Soup ice cubes or soup if I hand feed it (the soup was basically water, ground turkey, pumpkin, olive oil and bone meal. I will give the chicken and water a try and let you know how they like it. As far as adding their normal meat, does that just mean I'm putting this soup on whatever meat they are having at every meal until they start liking it? Thanks!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2011 20:04:07 GMT -5
Oh and forgot to ask, a lot of people suggested adding heavy cream to the soup to get them liking the taste better. Can I do that as well?
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Post by katt on Jun 30, 2011 20:11:35 GMT -5
Yes, just add it to every meal to MAKE them eat it. And heavy whipping cream can be used to make it tastier - it is also helpful for weight gain. I personally tend to veer away from using it unless necessary, because ferrets are lactose intolerant, but supposedly they can handle the whipping cream. This has never made a lot of sense to me. I assume the cream must be low in lactate. I have used it with Koda before when he was really thin from his major IBD flare up, and didn't have any major problems, but his poops were all so bad then (from the IBD) that it is impossible to tell really. It didn't make them worse. It certainly should not hurt to try.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2011 17:24:04 GMT -5
Different milk products do have different levels of lactose. I'm lactose intolerant myself, and I can handle yoghurts, heavy creams, sour cream, etc. much better than I can straight milk, so I believe it's something to do with what's in it. I did end up picking up a teeny tiny carton of heavy whipping cream as a back up, but I'll see if they'll eat the soup on their own first. Olivia definitely doesn't need the extra weight but Sophie is so streamline and tiny I wouldn't mind if she put on a bit more weight (I like my critters to be a little plump but not over weight, that way if they ever get sick they've got a reserve, that's my theory anyways). I also picked up some plain organic chicken breast so I'll be blending up some soup hopefully tonight, if not, tomorrow morning. I havent been feeling great and the smell of any raw meat right now is making me absolutely hurl, so I've been trying to feed the ferrets whatever meats I have that don't require cutting up/preparation. I'll let you know how it goes though, I just might be a little slow on the get-go here I do apologize.
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Post by katt on Jul 1, 2011 18:46:02 GMT -5
Different milk products do have different levels of lactose. I'm lactose intolerant myself, and I can handle yoghurts, heavy creams, sour cream, etc. much better than I can straight milk, so I believe it's something to do with what's in it. I did end up picking up a teeny tiny carton of heavy whipping cream as a back up, but I'll see if they'll eat the soup on their own first. Olivia definitely doesn't need the extra weight but Sophie is so streamline and tiny I wouldn't mind if she put on a bit more weight (I like my critters to be a little plump but not over weight, that way if they ever get sick they've got a reserve, that's my theory anyways). I also picked up some plain organic chicken breast so I'll be blending up some soup hopefully tonight, if not, tomorrow morning. I havent been feeling great and the smell of any raw meat right now is making me absolutely hurl, so I've been trying to feed the ferrets whatever meats I have that don't require cutting up/preparation. I'll let you know how it goes though, I just might be a little slow on the get-go here I do apologize. Hey no worries! I know what it's like when life gets crazy. I'm still filtering though some ups and downs. Probably will be for a while. I got my hair done though that always cheers me up. I'm always here to chat via PM too if you just need someone to talk to. *hugs* Now onto business. *ahem* The yogurt and sour cream both have lactate-fermenting bacteria in them that actually digest/have digested most of the lactate into lactic acid. (That's part of how they make them what they are.) I wouldn't be totally surprised if the cream does too. Hmmm.... As for the soup, you say they will eat soup ice cubes? Have you tried organ soup ice cubes by chance? Just curious. Keep mixing the soup into their meats as much as you can, but don't push yourself too much while you are sick! In the meanwhile, do you have access to Cod Liver oil? It is a good supplement for when they are not getting enough organs, so it might be good to add a little of that (not much - I will ask Heather for a dosage if you are interested in that) in their diet in the meanwhile. Also, FerretVite while sugary does have good vitamins in it. They will be fine for a little while without the organs - it is no different from when ferrets have an imbalanced diet when beginning the switch. But it is of course, always better to keep a little balance. Considering you are feeling ill, and we're not sure how stubborn they will be about this organ thing (I have a feeling very ) it might be good to add just a little supplementation in there.
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Post by katt on Jul 2, 2011 11:31:53 GMT -5
I was told at one point that cod liver oil could be given at 1/2 cc weekly. I really don't like supplementing in this manner as this dosage can differ from ferret to ferret. You should see black stools within the next 12 hrs. Ferrets according to an article I've recently read are often Vit a deficient but this is measured on kibble fed ferrets not raw, so I would be very careful supplementing in this manner. The one thing this other article did mention was that to make sure there is no vit D added to your cod liver oil supplement. Our carnivores can develop serious issues if given vit D, they manufacture their own. ciao I wouldn't give ferretvit the time of day but that's just me . Start with a quarter and see, if the stools aren't tarry like they would be if fed liver then you're not feeding enough. Sound ok? ciao So if you can find a medical syringe (to measure 1/4 cc) and cod liver oil I would add that to their diet until they get organs back into the routine. Esp because of the health issues you've been having with them I think it would be good to make sure they are getting those extra nutrients they are missing. Normally I'd say they are fine for a little while without it, but I think in this case it could be good to supplement a little. I'll leave that up to you but let me know what you decide.
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Post by katt on Jul 2, 2011 12:55:52 GMT -5
Just want to let you know I will be out of town for the weekend with no internet access. I will be back Monday night, so the only day I won't have access really is tomorrow (Sunday). I'll check back in here tonight too if you have any questions.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2011 13:05:47 GMT -5
Perfect, thanks! I will pick up some cod liver oil today. I'm assuming that's 1/4 cc (as in 0.25cc?) per day, or is that per week? Probably per day.
I haven't tried frozen organ ice cubes yet, but since today is supposed to be their organ day in the menu I'm going to be making up a batch of organ ice cubes to try, as well as a batch of plain soup. Maybe I'll get lucky and they will take to the organ soup ice cubes right away, but if not I'll just do the plain soup.
They will actually eat some pork kidney on their own, so should I keep offering that as is so they are at least eating some whole organ? The liver they won't touch on their own, or pork spleen or enough kidney really so my only other question would be:
If I do get them eating frozen organ soup ice cubes, is it best to combine all organs? Or should I do liver on its own, and then other organs (kidney and spleen) on its own? Or does it really matter? I think you told me initially they should be getting 1/2 liver and 1/2 other organs for their weekly organ amounts.
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Post by katt on Jul 2, 2011 13:47:23 GMT -5
Perfect, thanks! I will pick up some cod liver oil today. I'm assuming that's 1/4 cc (as in 0.25cc?) per day, or is that per week? Probably per day.Per week. I assume it's pretty concentrated stuff. Their poops should be nice and black as if they had eaten organ meat within 24 hours. If not, then up to 0.375 cc, if still no black poops then up ti 0.5 cc, but no more than that it sounds like (from talking to Heather). I haven't tried frozen organ ice cubes yet, but since today is supposed to be their organ day in the menu I'm going to be making up a batch of organ ice cubes to try, as well as a batch of plain soup. Maybe I'll get lucky and they will take to the organ soup ice cubes right away, but if not I'll just do the plain soup.Good luck! *crosses fingers* Let me know how they do with the soupie covered meats too. They will actually eat some pork kidney on their own, so should I keep offering that as is so they are at least eating some whole organ? The liver they won't touch on their own, or pork spleen or enough kidney really so my only other question would be:Yes, if they will eat it keep feeding it. If I do get them eating frozen organ soup ice cubes, is it best to combine all organs? Or should I do liver on its own, and then other organs (kidney and spleen) on its own? Or does it really matter?It doesn't matter as long as they are getting the right amount of organ and they will actually eat it. I think you told me initially they should be getting 1/2 liver and 1/2 other organs for their weekly organ amounts.Correct!
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